York IT firm’s charity event gives air ambulance cash boost

A York IT firm has given Yorkshire Air Ambulance a fundraising lift.

Catalyst IT Solutions, based in Heslington, hosted a Peaky Blinders Ball at York Racecourse and raised nearly £5,600 for the air ambulance charity.

The Peaky Blinders event, which saw 300 attendees donning their best 1920s attire and featured dancers from the Performing Arts Course at York College, also had a headline performance from popular party band, The Tzars.

Catalyst IT has raised more than £20,000 in total by hosting four annual fundraisers for charity and the first event was a James Bond themed party, celebrating 20 years since the release date of the film, Goldeneye. That event was also in aid of the air ambulance and was followed by a Masquerade Ball and then a Halloween themed event, supporting St Leonard’s Hospice and Martin House respectively.

Cataylst IT Solutions director, Mark Godliman, said: “There are so many deserving charities across our region and to date we have only been able to support three of them. We chose the YAA again this year because on March 23 they were called to a road traffic accident between Allerthorpe and Pocklington. Their speed and efficiency and the subsequent air transfer to Leeds General were all instrumental in saving the life of one of our closest friends.”